Enhancing Thermoelectrical Properties of Silver-Nanowire-Embedded Heatable Textiles via Sputter-Mediated Nanowire Structural Modulation

This study addresses the fabrication of flexible, heatable fabrics via the integration of globally interconnected silver nanowires (Ag NWs) with sputter-deposited silver atoms. Conventional heatable fabrics, which utilize macroscale or nanoscale conductive wires, often face challenges in balancing flexibility, comfort, and structural durability. The proposed method leverages the advantages of nanoscale metallic wires and vacuum-based sputtering, maintaining fabric flexibility while enhancing heating efficiency. The fabrication process involves dip-coating polyester fabric with Ag NWs, followed by sputter deposition to modulate the nanowire morphology, thereby improving key electrical properties such as wire resistance and contact resistance between wires. The experimental results demonstrate that sputter-deposited Ag NW fabrics exhibit significantly enhanced heating capability compared to undeposited, otherwise identical counterparts. Further, the fabrics maintain their heating characteristics under repeated mechanical bending and prolonged electrical stress, highlighting their potential for use in wearable electronic applications. This approach offers a promising solution to the limitations of current heatable textile technologies, providing a pathway for the development of comfortable, efficient, and durable heatable fabrics.